Socks, anyone?

After a one week hiatus (the weather was crappy on the day I usually take pictures, thus no good lighting!) I'm back with my creations. I finished the shrug I made for my friend, but I have yet to be able to give it to her (and her birthday was on the 3rd...oops!). It's Patons Classic wool in Peacock. I forgot to take a photo of it, but the process is agonizing, so I'm thinking no. I also whipped off a headband yesterday at work with some Too Teal in PCW and my own koolaid dyed skein, held together with Bernat Matrix in Acid Axis. It turned out okay, but I was itching to try a Panta... sooo:

I give you my crappy attempt at Panta. I haven't got size 5s, so I'm making it with size 4s. This just means it'll cover less of my head, but it'll still go around my head. I'm terrible at ribbing, it never stays uniform. The yarn is Patons Astra in Ultra Blue, a discontinued color that I love to death! I'm pretty sure too teal is exactly the same...nope, Teal's a smidge darker. Anyway, on to my other projects!

Under the hoodie is coming along really well. I have the back and sleeves done. I'm now starting the neck on the front, which crosses over a bit before it becomes the hood. Should be all kinds of fun to finish!

Sesame is coming along really well. I finished this right front section, but I probably won't have time to work on it anymore until classes are over.

If you can see, I've finished two socks in the past couple of weeks. I'm on a strict "no pairs rule", which means I don't need to match! Carlos's feet are also proudly displayed.

Sock#1: Made with Opal Dreamcatcher in color 1237. It's a total Dobby sock, all over the place with color and pattern. The toe is garter stitch wedge toe.

And the heel is my second attempt at the garter stitch short row heel. I love it.

Sock#2: Made with 100% merino wool, hand spun, hand dyed, from LK yarns (see my links for their site). Very plain sock.

Toe is a simple stocking stitch

Heel is a common heel flap, which I was surprised at how it blended in so well.

And, last but not least, Carlos loving my socks.
Will post soon with the finished Panta!

Knitting R&R

Ahh, it's so nice not to have to worry about progress on my knitting projects, now that the Knitting Olympics is over. I can sit back, relax, and knit whatever I want, without feeling guilty. So here's what I've accomplished in the past week:
One day, I was on the bus to the mall, and I had a brainwave. I've had a skein of Bernat's Neapolitan yarn for ages, and I've wanted to make something out of it for just as long. So I finally thought up this:

An Ice Cream Cone Hat! It's of course made with abovementioned yarn, and some Patons Canadiana in Oatmeal. I was lucky, the yarn store I went to is going out of business, so I got the ball for 30% off! NowI have to plan my purchases there...to get some good yarn deals! And maybe add to my needles...I've been eyeing some BIG needles :)

See how it spirals, just like real Neapolitan ice cream?

Now, picture it with a big red pom-pom, for the cherry on top! I have to get to a craft store for a pom-pom maker, I'm not cutting out some cardboard ones!
I also made this much progress on Sesame:

Yeah, not a lot. I was more interested in the hat, which I whipped up in a few hours. But I also worked on the shrug I've been commissioned to do...I just need her measurements and I can finish it!

I also re-started this sock with some beautiful Opal Dreamcatcher Yarn (Color 1237, bottom right corner).
So, that's about it in the knitting world. Oh! I dyed some yarn today! The same color and yarn as the last time, so I can finally finish Under the Hoodie! Yipee!